This is a question that most of you will probably encounter. Although new things are nicer, they are much more expensive than used ones. So what should you choose? It depends on your personal preferences, but it is worth knowing both options and their advantages and disadvantages.
Used items may seem attractive for various reasons, but the biggest advantage is definitely the price, because just going out in shoes reduces their value by 15-20%, so it can be a good opportunity to catch a steal and have something nice for next to nothing. However, there is also a risk, because there is no rule about what will be damaged or worn out, e.g. we can come across invisible cracking, which after two washes will completely destroy the print. Another problem in shoes that are a few or a dozen years old can be crumbling, i.e. the rubber, after a long stay in the box, can start to crumble and crack after just a few steps. However, there is a simple way to do this if we want our favorite pair for super special occasions to last us for years. It is enough to walk around the house once a month to let the rubber work a little and this should prevent crumbling or cracking of the sole for a long time. When buying shoes, pay attention to the so-called: heeldrag, i.e. significant abrasion of the sole, especially around the heel. Not only does it take away from the visual appeal, but it also affects the comfort of walking. However, if we have photos before buying, the degree of wear of the sole can tell us a lot about the actual condition if we have suspicions about hiding renovation or if the photo is of poor quality. Another aspect is the fact that we have to wash used items thoroughly because you never know if the previous owner did not leave us any surprises. Dry cleaning is a good and safe solution if we are worried about hygiene. Whenever we receive a used item, it is a good habit to carefully check for defects such as holes, stains, discoloration, traces of sewing and cracking on prints and so that there are no problems with returns or refunds, it is always worth recording the opening of the package to have a basis in the event of a callout, because without a recording it is only your word against your word.
New things have many advantages objectively speaking, and even more subjectively. One of the biggest is certainty about the condition and appearance, because in case of problems we can always return or exchange such an item. Another aspect is the time of use, because new shoes will last us much longer than worn ones, and elements susceptible to cracking or abrasion can be kept in good condition for a long time if we take proper care of them.